Chris Compton - @twainingwheels|Kingsley Asuamah
Life From Different Perspectives
Part 3 of 20: Smiling can trick your brain into happiness
This article is part of a series of articles written from the perspective of two very different minds.
My name is Chris Compton. I am a 59-year-old American living in Atlanta, GA. I am writing about the 20 self-improvement facts in this article:
The article’s author, Kingsley Asuamah, is a 36-year-old Nigerian living in Ireland. He is writing about the same topics.
You can follow along and see how two strangers, separated by age, geography, and circumstance, view the world and the opportunity to develop as human beings.
Smiling Can Trick Your Brain Into Happiness
I smiled when I referenced Kingsley’s article to see what the next topic was. I was already happy, but smiling still relaxed my face and coaxed a little shot of dopamine out of my brain, which magnified my already light mood, making me smile more and repeat the cycle. Smiling is the human version of a perpetual motion machine.
I grinned because I was already onboard the “smiling can make you happy all by itself train.” In January, I wrote about the power of the smile in this article:
I Taught Myself to Smile
Life is full of happy accidents, and this is one of them.
Many years ago, when cell phones began turning everyday life into a YouTube reality series, I decided to develop a “photo smile.” I practiced in front of a mirror, counting silently in my head. “One, two, three, smile.”
After a short time, I could produce a very nice smile in any situation, resulting in thousands of delightful photos over the last couple of decades and an unintended benefit.
When I am in a difficult situation, feeling low, or just in need of a boost, I can smile on demand. This skill is a game-changer.
Consider the Alternative
Before you start with your “I want to be my authentic self” or “We need to feel ALL of our emotions, good and bad” mumbo-jumbo, ask yourself these questions:
- What is the upside to being in a bad mood?
- Is life more enjoyable when I am happier or when I am “being my authentic self?”
- Am I kind to my partner when I am depressed, angry, or sad?
- Do I make good nutrition and exercise decisions when I am struggling emotionally?
Life is a Search for Adventure and Connection
If you’ve heard me say it once… Life is about connecting with other people.
We are all connected in ways we don’t quite understand. You have met people and felt like you’ve known them forever. You have run into your doppelganger. You have spent hours contemplating a new idea only to find your thoughts had already been published, almost word-for-word, years ago.
Connecting with people gives us an opportunity to love one another, share ideas and experiences, and learn from one another. Connections remind us that we aren’t freaks. Other people share our fears, anxieties, hang-ups, and quirks.
Adventures give us something to look forward to. They are a treasure trove of material for stories and lessons we can share with future connections. They entertain us and awaken our spirits, fueling us for our next endeavor.
Life is a solitary activity. Even when we do things together, we all have a unique experience based on our history, perspective, and attitude. Sharing adventures with others creates memories that will provide joy throughout our lives.
How would smiling more often affect your propensity to connect with others? Give it a try. It’s free.
Smiling…
- Relaxes your face
- Releases dopamine
- Reduces stress
- Makes you more attractive
- Minimizes negative emotions
- Defuses tense situations
- Enhances your experience
- Makes you more approachable
- Programs your brain to expect a good result
- Spreads joy
- Makes the world a better place
- Is easy to do, even when you are frustrated or angry
- Costs nothing
- Requires no time or energy investment
What are you waiting for?
Chris Compton
03–06–2024